Vapor actuated pump system



March 8, 1960 c. D. MaccRAcKEN 2,927,434

VAPOR ACTUATED PUMP SYSTEM Filed March 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l \2 TURBINE l 1 I BOILER CONDENSER I I TURBINE I4 I STAGE l 10 EXHAUST BOILER I STEAM B F PUMP I6 l 22 com). THERMO THERMO PUMP PUMP PUMP I HE TER MAKE HEAIER A\ g 3 UP I8 20 FEED 56 l 23 F/G. 58

INVENTOR. Fl 6, CALVIN D.MACCRACKEN ATTORNEY C. D. M CRACKEN VAPOR ACTUATED PUMP SYSTEM Filed March 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I q 66 e4 62 v 68 v 68 68' v REG REG REG 1 CK 94 m as V 74 v CK C as 78 j J 72 v v v F CK E D F IG 5 Z 5 200 w DISCHARGE 1 OF PUMP E g l J DISCHARGE LL OF m PUMP 3, l4.? (I) I LIJ 85 I l I 212 470 TEMP-DEGREES FAHRENHEIT INVENTOR. 4 CALVIN D.MACCRACKEN BY ATTORNEY 2,927,434 vAl oiz ACTUATED PUMP SYSTEM Calvin D. MacCra'cken,' Tenafly, NJ., assignor to Jet- Heet; Incp, Englewood, N.J., a corporation of New York Application March 7, 1957', sent No. 644,504 1 claims. (oi; 60 64 Thisinvention relates in general to vapor actuated pumping systems and particularly to an improved boiler or vapor pumping system including a" heat actuated pump, referred to herein as a thermopump, arranged to both heat and pump water or other liquids. I

A thermopump embodied in the pumping system of this invention is generally similarto those disclosed and described in a' copending application Serial No. 530,387

filed August 24, 1955, by Nils Erland afKleen and assigned to the assignee of this application and Patents 2,553,817 'lSSIiedMQXZ Z f 1951, to Nils Erland af Kleen and 2,744,470 issued May 8, 1956, to R. E. Coleman also all assigned to theassignee of this application.

7 The present invention represents an improvement over those described in the aforementioned application and patents particularly in respect to the construction and ar raugemer t oi the parts ot the thermopump and its at o i mp i awats in a il rs m- A thermo'pump etinstructed in accordancewith this inventionmay advantageously use steam available from the boiler itself or from any place in the boiler steam y tem, uc a r m, ;s e us of pp t using bsi s s eam? s-sm i r in a d au li a h both to heat and pump water to high temperatures and pressures for use again in the boiler or the boiler system. A pump"of this construction is particularly desirable for such ,uses because it utiliaes substantially all the available heat of the steam to both pump and heat the liquid being handled, so that there are substantially no losses in the operation of such a pump. The pump-has no appreciable moving parts requiring maintenance, does not use packing or require lubrication, and is substantially noiseless in operation The pump of this invention may be utilizedat any point iii a boiler system toheat and pump liquids vv here there is suflicient-activating steam available at temperatures andpressure above that or the liquid beingpumped and where the temperature and pres sure conditions of the pump actuating steam andthe pumpingliquid are such that repetitivecyclical condensation of the steam vapor in the pump may be accomplished. a M, N U

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an p svs ha l Pum i s st m-i v A further object isto provide an improved liquid pump for r t ?sst srt t sy a 1-., .v .1v

A further object is to provide an improved thermo- D i li-v H, or W 4 A still further object is to provide a thermally actuated pump which is, sirnp e in design, rugged in construction and economical manufacture. a I t t The various features of novelty which characterize the 'iiivsnfiofifir's i o' m outw th ettis r r in t e c ms; s s F9. ifi m Pr e a pa tq this s men... .FQI sa e.new stand s j i xi its p s ii s dvaisitags p s bi j ssbta nsd by, tsi a r tsrs s should be had to the'aecompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which thereare il lustrated and described several embodiifiiite of the invention. v

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2,927,434 i atented Mar; 8," 1960 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a boiler system showing a combination thermopump heater actuated by steam bled from one of the stages of the turbine and another thermopump heater actuated by steam from a boiler;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a vapor actuated thermopump heater constructed in accordance with this invention;

.Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a vapor pressure'temperature chart with pressure indicated on logarithmic scale and showing the liquid-vapor curve for water and the pressure step manner of raising water near its boiling, point to a high pressure without causing it to boil; and

Figure 5 is a schematieview of the arrangement of thermopumps for pumping liquids which are close to their boiling point in the manner indicated in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, the invention as embodied therein comprises a boiler 10 arranged to generate steam and to deliver ittto a turbine 12 for utilization therein. The turbine 12 is mounted over a condenser 14., Condensateis pumped from the condenser 14 back to the boiler It? by means of a conventional condensate pump 16, two thermopump heaters 18 and lb, and a conventional boiler feed pump 22. Make-up feed water is supplied to the system from a reservoir 23 between the condensate pump 16 and the thermopump heater 18. The thermopump heater 18 is actuated by steam from the exhaust or" one of the stages of theturbine 12, while the thermopump heater 20 is actuated by steam directly from the boiler 19. V

In accordance with the invention each of the thermopump heaters 18 and 26 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 ineludes acylindrical outer shell 22 closed by a top cover 24 and a bottom plate 26. A cylindrical inner Wall 28 extends downwardly from an inner substantially flat top member 29 to a position spaced from the bottom 26, and defines a vapor chamber 30 therein; and; between its outside periphery and the inside ofthe shell 22, a condenser 32. The vapor chamber Q6 and the condenser 32 are in liquid eommuuication at theirlower portions.

In some instauees, as for example Where it is desirable to pumpaliquid which may be close to its boiling point, a heat exchauger coil M may be advantageously provided in the condenser 32 order ,to cool the condenser sufficiently to prevent boiling of the liquid being pumped and possible stopping or the action of the pump. However, ,a big advantage of the pump is that it wastes substantially no input energy, and, in order that the heat of the sys tem may not be lost in these instances, the heat exchauger coilfi t, locatedin the condenser 32, would be connected to circulate liqu ds therethrough which require heating before use (such as lubeoil or fuel oil, for example). Another vvay topurnp liquids which are close to their boiling points without causing boiling which would stop the operation ofthe thermopump, wouldvbe connect several pumps together in the manner of Figure 5 as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention, steam from the boiler or from the exhaust of one of the stages of the turbine 12 (depending on the pressure temperature requirements of suction and discharge of the liquid be ing pumped) is directed through a conduit 36 to a steam valve through a flow regulator valve .40 and into the top of the vapor chamber 39. The conduit 56 is coiinected by meai s of asubstantially U-shaped vapor tube 42 to the upper part of the condenser 32. The

vapor, tube includes an inner leg 42a and an outer leg denser into the conduit 52 but not vice versa.

during pressure fluctuations therein during pumping and.

is necessary to permit operation of the thermopump with steam tapped from a pressure line.

In many instances (e.g. when the liquid being pumped is near its boiling point) it is desirable to control I the rate of steam vapor condensing in the vapor tube 42. This may be done by the use of suitable heat transferring means surrounding the vapor tube 42, as for example, a heat exchanger 44 arranged in heat exchange relationship with the inner leg 42a of the U-shaped tube 42. Where the heat exchanger 44 is utilized it is preferable to circulate a liquid therein which requires heating before use in order to eliminate heat losses in the system. A valve '46 is provided in an inlet conduit 48 to-the heat exchanger 44 in order to regulate the amountof liquid being circulated therein as a c'oo'lant.

' in order to prevent condensation of steam in the vapor chamber 36*, an insulated float 50 is arranged to fioat on the liquid in the vapor chamber and insulate the steam from the liquid. An inlet conduit 52 is connected to the lower portion of the condenser 32 and is provided with a check valve 54 which prevents flow from the con- A discharge conduit 56 is connected to the upper portion of the condenser 32 and is provided with a check valve which prevents flow backwardly from the conduit 56 to the condenser 32 but not vice versa. The condenser 32, the vapor chamber 30 and the vapor tube 42 are charged with the Water to be pumped, and the steam, which is admitted through the fiow regulator 40, increases the pressure in the upper portion of the vapor chamber 30 and the tube leg 4211. This pressure increase moves the water and the float 50 downwardly and displaces the water through the bottom of the vapor chamber 30 into the condenser 32 and through the check valve 58 and the conduit 56. When the liquid level in the vapor chamber 30 and the level in the vapor tube leg 42b reach a position at which they are just below the level of the bottom inside bend of the U-shaped tube 42, vapor travels upwardly in the leg 42a causing vapor contact with the top of the condenser and a pressure unbalance is created in the system. This unbalance causes, at first, a gradual flow in the opposite direction (i.e. downwardly in the condenser 32 and upwardly in the vapor chamber 30) to force the steam vapor through the tube 42 and into the condenser, and effect its condensation. The condensation of the steam efiects a pressure collapse in the top of the vapor chamber resulting in the quick drawing in of a fresh supply of water through the conduit 36 and the check valve 54 and the return of the float 50 on the water to its original position. Thereafter steam which is admitted in limited quantities through the orifice 40 again builds up in the vapor chamber 30 in sufiicient quantity to displace water from the pump again.

It is evident that a significant function of the vapor flow regulator is to prevent vapor from entering the collector at a rate so high as to equal or exceed the rate of transfer of vapor from the collector to the condenser. Otherwise, the pump will be unable to refill and there will be a continuous flow of vapor from the inlet conduit through the collector chamber and U-tube into the condenser.

The thermopump 18 is arranged to take in feed water at somewhat over atmospheric pressure and to discharge it as high as 200 pounds per square inch. The thermopump 26 is arranged to take in feed water around'200 pounds per square inch and discharge it at preferably around five or six times that amount, or, up to 1260 pounds per square inch, depending on the available steam pressure in the boiler 10. A conventional boiler feed pump 22 is provided to raise water from the thermopump 20 atits delivered pressure up to a pressure above the operating pressure of the boiler. Since the boiler steam is utilized to actuate the thermopump 20, of course it would not be possible for this pump to pump the water to a greater pressure than the boiler without a pressure multiplier or equivalent incorporated with the thermopump.

Besides the function of the thermopumps 18 and 20 to pump water to increased pressures in the boiler system, they are also advantageously used to heat the water which is pumped. The water to be pumped passes through the conduit 52 upwardly through the condenser 32 and out the conduit 56. The condenser 32 is repeatedly being supplied with vapor from the actuating steam which is delivered thereto through the U-shaped vapor tube 42 for condensation therein and in the U-shaped vapor tube 42 during the pumping operation. Thus heat which is repeatedly being supplied to the condenser 32 by the steam is transferred to the pumped liquid as it is circulated through the pump.

A thermopump constructed in accordance with this invention has particular application with boiler systems due to its completely eflicient operation. The only heat energy losses are insulation losses, all the heat energy being utilized to either heat the boiler feed water or to pump it to a higher pressure or location. The thermopump may be utilized "any place in the system in which the pressure temperature conditions of the available steam and the water to be pumped are such that no boiling of the liquid to be pumped will occur in the pump.

For a pressure in the turbine condenser of around an inch and one-half of mercury the boiling point of water is around 92 F. A thermopump, in order to handle water at such a pressure should be operated at temperatures of at least 20 degrees below this boiling point. A thermopump could be used to replace the conventional condensate pump 16, in those instances in which the. water is not close to its boiling point, or where it is-desirable to provide cooling for the thermo pump condenser 32 or the thermopump vapor tube 42. Such instances would arise, for example, as where it is desirable to preheat fuel oil or lubricating oil and it can be advantageously done by circulating it through the thermopump as mentioned supra. In some circumstances it may be desirable to circulate ordinary cooling tap water through the coils 34 or the heat exchanger 44 in order to cool the condenser 32 and the vapor tube 42, respectively, and take advantage of the attributes of the thermopump constructed in accordance with this invention despite the loss resulting from not using the heat removed by the tap water.

7 It is possible to 'use a combination of thermopumps constructedin accordance with this invention to pump liquids, which, are art-temperatures close to their boiling points, to higher pressures by, using a combination of thermopumps; as shown in Figure 5. Referring to the vapor pressure curve shown in Figure 4 the line C is the boiling point line for water. .It is seen that if it were desirable to pump with a single thermopump, water which was at 14.7 pounds per square inchand approximately F. (point A) to a pressure of 514 pounds per square inch (point B) it would be necessary to change the pressure temperature conditions of the water, which might bring it beyond the boiling point line C (shaded area of the chart), and boil the liquid before it could be raised up to the point B. Boiling of the liquid would prevent condensation of the steam and stop the pump. It is possible, however, by a combination of thermopumps arranged to operate in series to avoid the shaded area of the curve, or conditions which would cause the boiling of the liquid, by raising the pressure of the, liquid in steps which would not entail boiling. (See dotted step lines Figure 4.) These steps are chosen to give a large pressure rise withv relatively little temperature increase in the first step so that ever greater temperature increases may be taken in latter steps without crossing the boiling point line C To accomplish pumping ofa liquid which is at or near its boiling point to an-increased pressure, three thermopumps D, E and F are connected through acommon steam line 60 and individual feeder. lines; 62, 6j4f-aiid 66" to a source of actuating steam supply. Each feeder line 62, 64 and 6 6 is provided with. a steam flow. regulator or orifice 68 through which actuating steam is admitted to the individual thermopumps.- Water within 30 degrees of its boiling point is, drawn in through. the inlet: conduit 70 Check valve 72 to pump D; and is discharged therefrom through. check valve, 74 and conduit 76 to a pressure accumulator 73. The thermopump D is of such a size and construction that it will pump the liquid to a higher pressure without bringing it within 20 or 30 degrees of its boiling point. (See dotted step line of Figure 4.) The accumulator 78., is. provided to act as a reservoir for the liquid and to maintain it at substantially constant pressure during successive discharges of pump D and suctions of pump E.

The pump E takes suction from the accumulator 78 through a conduit 80 and a check valve 82 and discharges through a conduit 84 and a check valve 86 into an accumulator 88 thereby raising the liquid to an additional increase of pressure without bringing the liquid to its boiling point.

Pump F is arranged to take suction from the accumulator 88 through a conduit 90 and check valve 92 and discharge the water through a check valve 94 and conduit 90 to its place of use at the desired increase in pressure without ever having boiled the liquid.

In the arrangement of pumps shown in Figure 1, it is evident that the differential in vapor pressure and temperature which is necessary in order for the pumps to operate at diiferent pressure and temperature levels is obtained by supplying steam vapor to the pump units from different points in the boiler system. In the case of the arrangement shown in Figure 5, wherein the steam vapor is supplied to the pumps from a common point in the system, it will be understood that the pressure level of the actuating steam vapor for each individual pump unit will be regulated by appropriate selection or adustment of each regulating valve 68.

A boiler system utilizing a thermopump constructed in accordance with this invention will be very efiicient in operation. All of the heat energy utilized to actuate the pump is converted either into heat for the liquid being pumped or to pumping energy. The only losses which occur are those resulting from natural insulation losses. A system incorporating the thermopumps of this invention will be reliable and trouble free in operation. The pumps have no major moving parts to wear out and the maintenance of them will be practically nil.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes there is illustrated and described herein the best forms of the invention now known, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boiler system of the type in which vaporized liquid is delivered from a boiler to a load device such as a turbine or the like, and wherein said vaporized liquid is available at a plurality of points throughout said system at various pressure levels and temperatures, and in which a return line extends from said load device to said boiler to return condensed liquid to said boiler, the improvement which comprises a pumping device connected into said return line as a part thereof and operated by vaporized liquid from said boiler to raise the temperature and pressure of said condensed liquid, said device comprising a vapor collector chamber, a condenser chamber having its lower portion in com munication with the lower portion of said vapor collector chamber, a vapor supply conduit connected between the upper portion of said vapor collector chamber and one of said plurality of points in said system, vapor transfer means connected to communicate between the upper 6 portion of said condenser chamberand the upper portion of said vapor collector chamber, said vapor transfer means having a U-shapedportion extending" substantially belowthe top of said vapor chamber atits intermediate portion, aliquid inlet to said condenser chamber having means therein permitting now only into saidcondenser chamber, said return line from said load device being connected to said inlet, a liquid outlet from said condenser chamber having means therein permitting fiow only out of said condenser chamber, said return line to said boiler being connected to said liquid outlet, and means in said vapor supply conduit to control the admission of vapor to said vapor chamber, whereby to provide for controlled, cyclical displacement of liquid from said vapor chamber through said liquid outlet, transfer of vapor fromsaid vapor chamber to said condenser chamber through said vapor transfer means to reduce the pressure in said vapor chamber, and inflow of liquid through said liquid inlet.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said means to control the admission of vapor comprises a fiow regulating valve.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vapor chamber and said condenser chamber comprise a centrally disposed vapor chamber and an annular condenser chamber surrounding said vapor chamber, and a liquid conductor disposed within said condenser chamber for conducting a cooling liquid to control condensation in said condenser.

4. The invention defined in claim ,1 including cooling means for controlling vapor condensation in said U-shaped portion of said vapor transfer means, said cooling means comprising a liquid conductor in heat exchange relationship with said U-shaped portion and through which to circulate a cooling liquid.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said liquid conductor comprises a jacket surrounding a. section of said U-shaped portion of said vapor transfer means.

6. In a vapor actuated pump of the type comprising a vapor collector chamber, a condenser chamber having its lower portion in communication with the lower portion of said vapor chamber, vapor supply means communicating with the upper portion of said vapor chamber, and vapor transfer conduit means comprising a substantially U- shaped vapor tube connected between the upper portion of said vapor chamber and the upper portion of said condenser chamber and extending substantially below the top of said vapor chamber at its intermediate portion, the improvement which comprises means for controlling condensation of vapor in said U-shaped vapor tube, said lastnamed means comprising a liquid conductor in heat exchange relationship with said vapor tube and through which to supply cooling liquid for controlling vapor condensation in said vapor tube.

7. In a boiler system of the type in which vaporized liquid is delivered from a boiler to a load device such as a turbine or the like, and wherein said vaporized liquid is available at a plurality of points throughout said system at various pressure levels and temperatures, and in which a return line extends from said load device to said boiler to return condensed liquid to said boiler, the improve ment which comprises a plurality of pumping devices connected into said return line as serially related portions thereof and operated by vaporized liquid from said boiler to raise the temperature and pressure of said condensed liquid, said devices each comprising a vapor collector chamber, a condenser chamber having its lower portion in communication with the lower portion of said vapor collector chamber, vapor transfer means connected to communicate between the upper portion of said condenser chamber and the upper portion of said vapor collector chamber, said vapor transfer means having a U-shaped portion extending substantially below the top of said vapor chamber at its intermediate portion, a liquid inlet to said condenser chamber having means therein permitting flow only into said condenser chamber, a liquid outlet from said condenser chamber having means therein permitting flow only put of said condenser chamber, a vapor supply conduit connected betweenthe upper portion of each said vapor chamber and a common one of said plurality of points in said system, said return line from said load device being connected to said inlet of the first of said devices in the series, said return line to said boiler being connected to said liquid outlet of the last of said devices in the series, a plurality of pressure accumulators connected one between each successive pair of pumps in the series to receive the discharge of liquid from the previous pump in the series and to deliver liquid for pumping by the next pump in, the series, and means in said vapor supply conduit adjacent to each said vapor chamber to control the admissionof vapor to each said vapor chamber, whereby to obtain a greater increase in 8 total pressure and temperature of said liquid than can be obtained in a single ,such device without causing boiling of said liquid. Y 1 I References Citediin the file of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 167,765 Howe Sept. 14, 1875 260,033 Litchfield et a1. June 27, 1882 945,962 Kruesi Jan. 11, 1910 1,014,795 Wheeler Ian. 16, 1912 2,628,015 Neugebauer Feb. 10, 1953 2,744,470 Coleman May 8, 1956 2,755,792 Van Hook July 24, 1956 2,757,618. Erland Ai Kleen Aug. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland June 1, 1926 

